Remembering God's Wondrous Works: Praise, Study, Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Flags on Graves and Wholehearted Hallelujahs

The weight of remembrance shapes our worship. Just as flags mark soldiers’ sacrifices, Psalm 111 calls us to anchor praise in God’s concrete acts—creation’s grandeur, redemption’s cost, providence’s quiet faithfulness. To study these works is to trace the fingerprints of a God who keeps covenants across generations. True thanksgiving erupts not from obligation, but from awe that reshapes how we see everything. [27:06]

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” (Psalm 111:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What “flag” of God’s faithfulness in your life—a specific answered prayer, provision, or rescue—could you recount today to stir someone else’s worship?

Day 2: Wondrous Works in Narrow Tunnels

Hezekiah’s tunnel—carved through rock to deliver water during siege—mirrors God’s unseen providence. Psalm 111 celebrates divine works that outmaneuver despair: parted seas, preserved scrolls, meals in wildernesses. Our present struggles are tunnels where God’s faithfulness echoes loudest. To study His past deliverances is to walk current darkness with a lantern. [58:20]

“He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.” (Psalm 111:4, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you need to chisel “He has done it before” into your heart’s wall as you face a tight space today?

Day 3: From Dead Sea Scrolls to Daily Obedience

The Isaiah scroll’s survival through millennia proves God guards His Word. Psalm 111 ties theology to action: trustworthy precepts demand practiced faithfulness. Like scribes preserving Scripture or reformers nailing theses, our obedience in small things—kind words, kept promises—becomes living commentary on God’s reliability. [59:56]

“The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.” (Psalm 111:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: Which of God’s “precepts” (patience, integrity, forgiveness) feels most like a narrow tunnel to walk through this week—and what first step will you take?

Day 4: Holy Ground and the Fear That Starts Wisdom

The Temple Mount’s stones—where Abraham lifted a knife and Jesus overturned tables—still whisper holiness. Psalm 111 ends where wisdom begins: trembling before the God who splits seas and graves. This fear isn’t terror but GPS-recalibration—reorienting life around the One whose covenant outlasts empires. [01:06:31]

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10, ESV)

Reflection: What practical decision (schedule, relationship, habit) needs the “recalibration” of asking, “Does this reflect holy awe?”

Day 5: Benediction Among Broken Stones

Crumbled castles and empty tombs preach God’s permanence. Psalm 111’s closing lines—"His praise endures forever"—turn memorials into momentum. Whether etching names on graves or lifting hands in pews, we join a chain of witnesses declaring: the God of manna and resurrection still feeds and frees. [01:16:24]

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” (Psalm 111:10, ESV)

Reflection: What broken place in your story could become a pulpit to proclaim, “His praise endures here too”?

Sermon Summary

Hallelujah opens the psalm and sets the tone: the psalmist calls the redeemed to give thanks to the Lord with the whole heart, and to do it in the company of the upright. Praise does not rise from hype but from remembrance. “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” The summons is to study, to seek out, to inquire, to return again and again until delight grows. That study is not narrow. The psalm gathers the Lord’s works under three banners the church has long recognized: creation, providence, and redemption. His work shines with splendor and majesty, and his righteousness does not wear out. He causes his wondrous works to be remembered, which shows that remembrance itself is one of his works of grace.

Providence stands out as the psalmist names concrete mercies. The Lord provides food for those who fear him. He remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works by granting them the inheritance of the nations. Redemption crowns the catalog: he sent redemption to his people and commanded his covenant forever. These acts unveil the Actor. His works are faithful and just, and so his precepts are trustworthy, established forever and ever. Word and deed cohere in him. That coherence drives the refrain: holy and awesome is his name.

The fear of the Lord sits at the gateway of wisdom. Reverent awe before the covenant God is the beginning of skill in godly living. Those who practice it gain understanding. So the psalm moves the worshiper from doxology to study and back to doxology. Theology becomes the queen of the sciences again, not as cold theory but as the delight of those who ponder the Lord’s handiwork in creation, his ordering of history, and his saving acts now made full in Christ’s cross and resurrection. Remembering leads to honoring, and honoring includes obedience. His precepts are not suggestions. They are to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

On a weekend set aside to honor those who gave their lives, the psalm presses a deeper remembrance: the Lord’s covenant faithfulness and the redemption he has sent. Creation and history provide countless exhibits, yet Scripture remains the surest guide to his works. The psalm finally circles where it began: his praise endures forever. Such praise belongs with a whole heart, in a gathered people, who study, fear, obey, and speak of his renown.

Key Takeaways

1. Wholehearted praise honors remembered works Praise in this psalm is not vague feeling but informed thanksgiving rooted in what the Lord has actually done. The call is corporate and undivided, because a divided heart is too small for his glory. Remembered works kindle real worship, and remembered worship deepens remembrance. The church’s gathered praise becomes a living memorial to his covenant faithfulness. [52:58]
2. Study the Lord’s works with delight Delight grows through study, not instead of it. Creation, providence, and redemption invite careful attention until awe becomes understanding and understanding becomes song. Theology returns to its rightful place when God’s people pursue it with joy, treating his works as treasures to ponder, not trivia to pass over. Such study fuels both witness and worship. [37:27]
3. Creation, providence, redemption reveal character The works of God are windows into who God is. Provision, covenant, inheritance, and redemption showcase righteousness that endures, mercy that spares, and holiness that humbles. Word and work meet in him, so trust in his precepts makes sense because his acts prove his name. Seeing his patterns in history steadies faith in present troubles. [42:24]
4. Trustworthy precepts require faithful obedience Because his instructions are established forever, obedience is not an optional add-on but the fitting response to a faithful God. Right belief should ripen into right practice, performed with faithfulness and uprightness. The church’s life becomes a lived amen to what God has said and done. Obedience honors the One whose word and work agree. [65:28]
5. Fear of the Lord births wisdom Reverence before the Holy One is the starting line of wise living, not the finish line. Practiced fear trains perception so that knowledge is applied well. As awe matures into disciplined habits, understanding grows, and praise becomes sturdier. Wisdom is learned skill under the gaze of a covenant-keeping God. [66:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:06] - Memorial Day and remembrance
[30:01] - Turning to Psalm 111
[34:31] - Hallelujah and corporate praise
[37:27] - Studied by all who delight
[38:55] - Theology as queen of sciences
[42:24] - Creation, providence, redemption
[45:59] - Redemption from Exodus to Christ
[49:57] - Trustworthy precepts that endure
[51:07] - Gracious, merciful, faithful name
[52:58] - Wholehearted praise and response
[54:48] - Study, testify, and encourage
[66:13] - Fear of the Lord and wisdom
[69:15] - Call to believe and grow
[76:24] - Benediction and Zechariah preview

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Psalm 111:1-10 (ESV)
1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Observation Questions

What three categories of God’s works does the psalm highlight (creation, providence, redemption), and how are they described in verses 2-9?
How does the psalm connect God’s works (e.g., providing food, sending redemption) to His character (e.g., gracious, faithful)?
What repeated phrases or themes tie the beginning and end of the psalm together (e.g., “whole heart,” “fear of the Lord,” “praise endures forever”)?
According to verse 8, what is the relationship between God’s precepts and our actions?

Interpretation Questions

Why does the psalm emphasize praising God “in the company of the upright” (v. 1) rather than privately? How does corporate worship deepen remembrance and honor?
The psalm says God’s works are “studied by all who delight in them” (v. 2). What might hinder someone from delighting in studying God’s works, and how can that change?
Verse 10 links the “fear of the Lord” to wisdom. How does reverent awe of God’s covenant faithfulness (v. 5, 9) shape our daily decisions and priorities?
The sermon noted that “theology becomes the queen of the sciences… as the delight of those who ponder the Lord’s handiwork” [37:27]. How does viewing theology as delight rather than duty transform our approach to studying Scripture?

Application Questions

What’s one practical step you can take this week to intentionally study God’s works in creation, providence, or redemption (e.g., journaling, discussing with a friend, observing nature)? [37:27]
The psalm calls for obedience to God’s precepts “with faithfulness and uprightness” (v. 8). Is there a specific command or teaching in Scripture you’ve struggled to obey? How can you align your actions with God’s character this week?
Reflect on a time when you experienced God’s providence (e.g., provision, protection, guidance). How could sharing that story in your small group or family deepen corporate worship? [42:24]
The “fear of the Lord” is described as the “beginning of wisdom” (v. 10). What habit or discipline could you cultivate to grow in reverent awe of God (e.g., prayer, Scripture meditation, serving others)? [01:06:13]
The sermon mentioned creating “living memorials” of God’s faithfulness through shared testimonies [52:58]. How can you intentionally remember and celebrate God’s works in your life or community this month?
In what area of your life (e.g., work, relationships, finances) do you need to trust more deeply that God’s precepts are “trustworthy” (v. 7)? What would it look like to act on that trust today?

Sermon Clips

Now I know most of you here and most of your testimonies, but I don't know all of you, and I don't know everyone who's watching online. Have you begun that journey? Do you know him? Do you know the fear of the lord? It starts with that conviction from the holy spirit and responding to that, responding to the gospel, the fear about your sin, the righteousness that is not yours, that's Christ that you need, and the judgment that is to come. [01:08:50] (31 seconds) #StartYourFaithJourney

So correct theology, which comes from studying the lord's works and his word, should lead to orthodoxy, which is right belief, and that should lead to orthopraxy, which is right practice. And all that should lead to doxology. Right? The very last phrase, his praise endures forever. [01:07:25] (23 seconds) #TheologyToDoxology

So studying the Lord in his works leads to the fear of the Lord. That is the beginning of wisdom, which will help you give thanks to the Lord with your whole heart. And this psalm then helps you further see the value of being a disciple of the lord who remembers his wondrous and great works. [01:08:05] (19 seconds) #StudyLeadsToWisdom

Well, equally important, especially for our purposes today, the psalmist points out that this praise is not just mindless emotionalism. It isn't work yourself up with some good coffee, a good beat, or social pressure, but it is based on the revealed greatness of the Lord as seen in his works, the great things that he has done, which we'll consider much more as we plow through this psalm today. [00:36:04] (26 seconds) #WorshipRootedInWorks

Doing so, studying the works of the Lord should bring delight. It should be a pleasure. And this pleasure can be ours forever. As another commentator said, probably this will be our employment in eternity, ever passing in a deeper and fuller appreciation of the works of God and breaking in a more rapturous song. [00:41:08] (23 seconds) #DelightInGodsWorks

Truly in the whole fullest sense, his name represents all of who he is. He is completely set apart. He is transcendently pure. He is truly awesome, beholding him as seen in his works then should lead us to awe. And indeed, that is where we come back to in the psalm. [00:52:06] (22 seconds) #AweOfTheLord

The reason why the lord's people praise him is because they have come to know who he is via his great works, and that doesn't just happen. Right? We study them. We're called to study them. We are we're called to seek, to inquire, to read his word and reread it. [00:53:11] (22 seconds) #StudyToKnowGod

Well, theology so I just thought I just mentioned biology, the study of life. Right? Theology is the theo god the word for god, the study of god. And you know what? It was heralded for centuries as the queen of the sciences. By definition, it is the source of all truth, which informs and illuminates all of the branches of knowledge. [00:40:02] (24 seconds) #TheologyIlluminates

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Remembering God's Wondrous Works: Praise, Study, Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Flags on Graves and Wholehearted Hallelujahs

Day 2: Wondrous Works in Narrow Tunnels

Day 3: From Dead Sea Scrolls to Daily Obedience

Day 4: Holy Ground and the Fear That Starts Wisdom

Day 5: Benediction Among Broken Stones

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Remembering God's Wondrous Works: Praise, Study, Obedience

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